How many movies have you watched that portray love as a warm and fuzzy emotion? We’ve probably all seen those sappy movies that depict how a couple “fell in love” after knowing each other for a few days, or even a few minutes. This is often what the world thinks of when they hear the word “love,” but the Bible speaks of a different type of love. 

First John 4:7-8 says, “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love.” In this verse, John is writing to believers. He is exhorting them to love one another. The love spoken of in this passage is agapē, a self-giving love that is not selfish, but sacrificial. God demonstrated this kind of love by giving his only begotten Son, Jesus, to die on the cross for our sins. Jesus demonstrated this type of love by willingly sacrificing His life. 

You see, love is not based on feelings like so many in our world are accustomed to believing. True love, like the kind spoken of in the Bible, is unselfish and giving. It puts others first. 

How can we demonstrate this type of love? First, it’s important to recognize that we can’t give what we don’t have. Our ability to love in the way the Bible speaks comes from having a relationship with God, the source of love. As believers and recipients of Christ’s love, we are called to allow His love to transform us and to willingly extend that love to others. 

Lord, we thank you that You are LOVE. That is the very essence of who You are. As recipients of Your love, help us to extend Your love to others. Help us to love the body of believers as You have called us to. 

Would you like to learn more about how Jesus demonstrated His love for us as well as His command to love one another? Watch Debbie’s teaching on John 13.

Throughout history, earthly rulers and leaders have ascended to positions of power, only for their authority to eventually be removed through the succession of another leader or by death. However, the Lord has always reigned over all the earth, and His reign can never be undone or overthrown. 

Joshua 3:13 confirms God’s unmatched position of authority: “It shall come about when the soles of the feet of the priests who carry the ark of the LORD, the Lord of all the earth …” 

Psalm 24:1 also declares God’s supremacy: “The earth is the LORD’s and all it contains, The world, and those who dwell in it.”

I often hear people say that it doesn’t matter who you worship, as long as you worship someone or something. But it matters to the Lord of all the earth. Why would the Lord of all the earth want His creation to bow to and follow another god? He doesn’t! He’s the One we’re to bow before, listen to, and follow—Him alone. Unlike earthly rulers, God is perfectly loving and just. We can trust His authority and leadership in our lives. 

Heavenly Father, we praise You, LORD OF ALL THE EARTH! Your majesty and power are glorious. You reign in perfect righteousness. 

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Do you need a rallying point—some place you can go to find victory over your old nature and the devil’s temptations? Moses discovered that the Lord was his rallying point in Exodus 17. When he held the staff of God high, the Israelites were victorious over their enemies. They fought in God’s name and strength, not their own. After the battle was over and the Israelites defeated their enemies, “Moses built an altar and named it The LORD is My Banner” (Exodus 17:15).

As believers, we can declare the same truth for our lives as Moses did —“The LORD is My Banner.” He is our leader, protector, and the source of our victory. When we lift His name high in prayer and look to Him for strength, we find victory over our sin nature and the enemy. 

LORD MY BANNER, I praise You and lift high Your name over my flesh and the enemy.  

As we approach the holiday season, let’s focus on all we have to be grateful for. The Prayers of My Heart prayer journal is a great place to record your thanks to God for all the ways He is revealed in the Bible. It is also a thoughtful and meaningful gift to give to someone else. 

On April 8, 2024, millions of people witnessed the rare total solar eclipse. People watched in awe through their solar eclipse glasses as the moon passed in front of the sun, blocking the sun’s light and casting a shadow on the Earth. This extraordinary event gave observers a small glimpse into what life would be like without the light of the sun. 

Just as the sun illuminates darkness and provides light to the earth, Jesus provides spiritual light to the world. We’re reminded of this in John 8:12: “Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, ‘I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.’”

Although the sun may be dimmed by solar eclipses and clouds, Jesus is constantly brilliant and will one day be the source of Light by which we live for eternity. No doubt, when Jesus announced He was the Light of the World, He must have sounded braggadocios to His listeners. How could a carpenter from Nazareth claim to be the Light of the world? Yet, Jesus made the claim, and He is who He says. 

Jesus came from heaven bringing truth that enlightens every man who will receive Him. Invite Jesus into your heart and live in His brilliance for eternity.

Lord Jesus, You are the LIGHT OF THE WORLD and our Light. We give You honor and praise!

Want to learn more about Jesus being the Light of the World? Debbie addresses this topic in her teaching on John 8. Watch it HERE. 

Have you ever looked for “life” in someone or something apart from Jesus? Perhaps in your younger years you were “the life of the party.” Maybe in your adult years you bought into the idea that the right job, house, car, or person would bring you all you wanted in life. But, perhaps later you realized that things and people can disappoint and fall short of that for which we long. 

If the temporal things of this world fail to provide true life or lasting fulfillment, then where or to whom can we turn? Jesus declared in John 14:6, “…’I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.’” This verse encourages us to turn to Jesus as the source of all life, both physical and spiritual. 

You see, nothing in this world can bring complete satisfaction. Our hearts will never be truly happy or fulfilled until they’re at home with the Lord. He is the life for which we yearn.

Lord, You are the way, the truth, and the LIFE! We bow and worship You.

To learn more about Jesus as the gate to eternal life in heaven, watch Debbie’s teaching on John 14 HERE or listen to it HERE.

“That’s not fair!” How many times have we heard that impassioned objection from a child when they perceive something as unjust or inequitable? From an early age, we gain a sense of what’s fair and unfair or what’s just and unjust. We can quickly recognize other people’s sin nature when they’re acting unfairly, but as we mature, we must also learn to contend with and recognize our own sin nature.

The good news is that there is One who is not only perfectly just, but the ultimate justifier as well. That One is God. Romans 3:26 says, “…so that He [God] would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

What does this verse explain? That God declares us righteous when we repent of our sins and confess Jesus as Savior and Lord. God’s justification is not based on anything we’ve done. Rather, it is a gracious and merciful gift from God, based solely on the sacrificial death of Christ.

If we’re not already lifting our hands in praise of God; that He is both just and justifier, now is a good time to praise Him. “I will bless You as long as I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name” (Psalm 63:4).

We praise you, God, both just and JUSTIFIER!

Want to learn more about how to live by Christ’s divine nature instead of our sinful, fallen nature? Grab a copy of Debbie’s 2 Peter Bible study, Living by the Divine Nature Instead of Our Fallen Nature, HERE. You can also access the free accompanying videos and podcasts by going HERE.

Have you ever experienced a time when someone was gracious toward you? Perhaps you said or did something you wish you hadn’t, but instead of the person responding in anger or making you feel guilty, they extended grace and forgave you. Even more wonderful is the fact the Lord is gracious, as evidenced through the Bible.

One such instance is found in Exodus 32. You may recall that God, in His grace, used Moses to lead the enslaved Israelites out of Egyptian bondage. After their freedom, God graciously wrote the Ten Commandments on tablets of stone for Moses to give to the nation and and by which they were to live. Think about it. Only 10 commandments. Yet when Moses came down from the mountain, he found the people indulging in revelry, dancing around a golden calf and worshiping it. God’s anger burned, understandably, and Moses was so furious that he threw the tablets to the ground, causing them to shatter. Fast forward. The people repented and God called Moses to return to Him on the mountain top and to bring two more tablets of stone. Exodus 34:6 states, “Then the Lord passed by in front of him and proclaimed, ‘The LORD, the LORD God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth.’”

Although the Israelites had turned away from God and worshiped idols, the Lord was gracious to them, offering grace and forgiveness.

Just as God was gracious to the people of Israel, He is gracious to us. When we sin, we can turn to Him, repent of our sins, and receive His forgiveness. Is there anything for which you need to repent today? If so, do it now. God is waiting and ready to graciously forgive you. 

Lord, thank You for being GRACIOUS toward us, for not holding our sins against us, but instead, for giving us new days and new opportunities. We are thankful beyond words for Your grace.

Would you like to experience more of God’s lavish grace? Check out Debbie’s Bible study, “Experiencing Grace and Peace in Cultural Chaos” by clicking HERE. You can also access the free accompanying videos and podcasts by clicking HERE.

If you’re a runner or know someone who is, you understand the importance of removing anything that might slow you down. You’re also aware of how critical it is to stay focused while running and not get sidetracked by any distractions. You or someone you know has probably also experienced weariness at some point while running—maybe toward the end of a race, a marathon, or a high-mileage run.

Hebrews 12 draws a comparison between the Christian life and running a race. The chapter starts out by encouraging believers to throw off any hindrances, such as sin, that so easily entangles, and to run the race with perseverance. Hebrews 12:2 goes on to say, “…looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Jesus despised the shame of the cross, yet He suffered through it in order to not only give us a start in our Christian walk, but to also make sure that our faith is perfected, complete, and finished. You see, Jesus is not only the author or the source of our faith, but He also oversees, sustains, and completes the faith of those who trust in Him. Philippians 1:6 reminds us of this—“Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

It is with tremendous gratitude each of us should look heavenward in praise of our Lord and thank Him—the author and finisher of our faith!

Lord Jesus, we praise You! We thank You that You are not only the author, but also the FINISHER OF OUR FAITH!

We don’t have to run the Christian race alone. Jesus sent us a Helper—the Holy Spirit. To learn more about Christ’s gift, listen to this free podcast teaching: Listen UP! 31 Points Every Christian Should Know About the Holy Spirit.

I recently heard a television anchor report on a well-known religious leader whose viewpoint on a moral issue was contrary to the Bible. She then invited viewers to weigh in. “Let us know what you think. You can Twitter if you agree or disagree.” As she continued with the next story, my mind lingered on her words. Does she not know that our opinion or even religious leaders’ opinions are not what matters, but rather Jesus’ stance? 

In Ephesians 1:22, Paul clearly states, “And He [our Heavenly Father] put all things in subjection under His [Jesus’] feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church.” 

We have seen in Scripture how Jesus is head of man, head of the church, head over all rule and authority. Paul now with a broad sweep of his pen summarizes that Jesus is head over all things.

It concerns me when churches and denominations vote their opinion rather than stand with Biblical teachings. Does it concern you, too? 

Lord Jesus, HEAD OVER ALL THINGS, we confess our nation is drifting from You. Yet, some churches are also drifting from You and following cultural trends. Raise up strong, committed Christians who speak truth as recorded in Your Word and submit to You.

Would you like to grow in your faith? Discover the many resources on our website that can help you. In addition to our books and Bible studies, we offer several free Christian resources, including podcasts, video teachings, listening guides, and more!

Has anyone ever broken a promise to you? More than likely, you answered yes. Promises are broken every day, but there is One, God, whose promises you can count on today and for eternity. 

Beginning in Genesis, God promised to never destroy the earth again with a flood. God kept His Noahic Covenant, another word for promise.

God promised Abraham that He would make a great nation out of his descendants. The nation of Israel is the fulfillment of God’s covenant.

God made a covenant with King David that he would have a descendant on the throne forever. That covenant/promise is fulfilled in Jesus. 

God promised a new covenant fulfilled by Jesus. “And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you; for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins’” (Matthew 26:27-28). 

Yes, Jesus made a covenant, a promise, sealed with His blood that anyone who repents of sin and believes in Him for the forgiveness of their sins will be saved and given the Holy Spirit. 

Other people may have broken their promises to you, but the Lord, the covenant maker, can be trusted today and for eternity. 

Lord Jesus, COVENANT MAKER, thank You for the peace and eternal life You give us through Your blood sacrifice. We worship and praise You.

Happy Veteran’s Day to all our veterans. Thank you for your courage, service, and sacrifice. May God bless, strengthen, and protect you. 

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